A trillion-euro marketplace used by billions, transforming every sector from transport to healthcare.sentence permalink

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But as it becomes ever more essential, people also take it more and more for granted.sentence permalink

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They imagine that this is "it"; that we've reached the limit of its possibilities.sentence permalink

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This has long been a common attitude.

Even just a hundred years ago, many people thought that everything worthwhile had already been invented. "What could possibly top the light bulb", they said?sentence permalink

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And today, likewise, many seem to think that the Internet will – or should – basically stay just like it is. And they assume that the current market structure – dominated by large companies from across the Atlantic – will also stay the same.sentence permalink

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Well, maybe that's a natural reaction.

But I don't see it like that. I think there's an opportunity for great innovation – and an opportunity for Europe. And – given that you're here today – I think you see that too.sentence permalink

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Because – make no mistake – research and innovation will keep powering change.sentence permalink

Over the last 5 years, typical US and Asian ICT companies' sales went up by almost 50%.sentence permalink

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While sales by their European competitors stayed the same, or even decreased.sentence permalink

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We need to change that.

Including through the platforms that enable and support new business models.sentence permalink

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From mobile devices to app stores, software, and IP networks; these are the ingredients that help American companies build a network and snowball to success. It's time we had more of them over in Europe too.sentence permalink

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Smart cities are a great example.

They create platforms, and use them, making open data and applications available – to citizens, to developers, to innovators, to come up with yet more ideas.sentence permalink

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Or a more secure and private cloud.

Made in Europe.

But platforms don't build themselves.

And this is where initiatives like the FI-LAB come in. Led by industry, this is a major investment in generic technology.sentence permalink

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Focusing not on specific applications: but on the building blocks essential to creating them.sentence permalink